BOOK REVIEW: “The Writing Retreat” by Julia Bartz
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ABOUT THE BOOKS (from Amazon):
A young author is invited to an exclusive writer’s retreat that soon descends into a pulse-pounding nightmare—in the vein of The Plot and Please Join Us.
Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement.
But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell—they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she must discover the truth—or suffer the same fate.
A claustrophobic and propulsive thriller that “will keep you up all night with its intriguing premise and gasp-worthy twists” (Kirthana Ramisetti, author of Dava Shastri’s Last Day), The Writing Retreat expertly explores the dark side of female relationships, fame, and the desire to have our stories told.
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This year, I decided to start a new tradition of stopping by the airport bookstore every time I travel and purchasing a book from my wish list. In January while traveling to Florida, I picked up “The Writing Retreat” by Julia Bartz. Having already earmarked this title as one to watch, I was excited to delve into it. However, upon completion, I found myself with mixed feelings.
At its core, “The Writing Retreat” offers an engaging narrative filled with suspense and unexpected turns. Bartz crafts a story that begins with a seemingly simple premise: a protagonist attending a book launch party, dreading the encounter with an estranged ex-best friend. The plot thickens as both women, alongside others, are drawn into a writing retreat led by a beloved author, setting the stage for a series of eerie, unpredictable events. The horror and thriller elements of the retreat are the book’s strongest points, successfully keeping the reader on edge and eagerly anticipating the next twist.
However, my reading experience was tempered by elements that felt disconnected from the main storyline. Early interactions among characters were laden with political and liberal viewpoints that, regardless of personal agreement or disagreement, seemed out of place. These moments felt more like authorial intrusions than organic parts of the narrative, distracting from the central plot rather than enriching it.
Despite this criticism, I enjoyed the suspense of the story and gave it four stars. Julia Bartz’s novel offers a thrilling escape into the dark corners of ambition, creativity, and rivalry.
